ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Prime Minister's Office
PM applauds INS Vikrant successfully berthing for the first time at the newly constructed Aircraft Carrier pier, at Karwar
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has praised INS Vikrant successfully berthing for the first time at the newly constructed Aircraft Carrier pier, at Karwar.
In response to a tweet by Indian Navy there Prime Minister tweeted :
"Remarkable!"
Ministry of Coal
Supply of Coal to Tamilnadu
In the year 2018-19, Coal India Limited  had supplied 491.54 Million Tonnes  coal to power plants which was 8.2% more than the coal supplied in 2017-18. Singareni Collieries Company Limited  supplied 55.3 MT coal to power plants in 2018-19 which was a growth of 3.6% over the same period of previous year. This has led to creation of a coal stock of 30.95 MT at the power plants as on 31.03.2019 which was sufficient for 18 days requirement. In 2018-19, the power plants of Tangedco have been supplied 23.26 MT coal from CIL with a growth of 3.5% over the supply of 22.49 MT in 2017-18. As on 16.06.2019, Tamil Nadu power plants have coal stock of 9.67 lakh tonne which is sufficient for 12 days requirement. At present, no power plant in Tamil Nadu is in critical/super critical category. Some of the numerous steps taken to augment coal supply to power plants are:
- The power plants in close vicinity of coal fields have been advised to move coal through road mode.
- For proper utilization of Goods sheds, the power plants have been advised to move coal through road-cum-rail mode.
- Optimal utilization of the captive modes of transport like, MGR, Belts, Ropes to move coal to the concerned power plants.
- Supply of coal to Power plants through rail mode is prioritized.
- Coal supplies to Power sector is monitored regularly by an Inter-Ministerial Sub-group comprising representative of Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Shipping, Coal India Limited etc.
As a result of these steps, coal stock at power plants as on 16.06.2019 has increased to 27.01 MT from 15.44 MT as on 16.06.2018.
This information was given by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
Bilateral Meetings of the Prime Minister on the sidelines of ASEAN – India Summit, Bangkok
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held separate meetings with Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he discussed with the leaders on ways to expand the cooperation with the two countries
Ministry of Power
PFC witnesses 28% increase in consolidated Profit After Tax from Quarter 1’ 2021
Power Finance Corporation Ltd, an Indian financial institution under the ownership of Ministry of Power has witnessed 34% increase in Standalone Profit After Tax from Q1’21. Following are the highlights of the first quarter result of 2021:
- 34% increase in Standalone Profit After Tax from Q1’21- PAT at Rs. 2,274 cr. for Q1’22 vs. Rs.1,700 cr. for Q1’21.
- 15% increase in Net Interest Income from Q1’21-Net Interest Income at Rs. 3,525cr. for Q1’22 vs.Rs.3,073cr. in Q1’21
- Interim Dividend of Rs.2.25 declared per share.
- Aided by profit growth, PFC’s net worth for Q1’22 is up by 17% to Rs.54,739 cr. from Rs. 46,940 cr. in Q1’21.
- The Capital Adequacy Ratio of the Company has crossed 20% - CRAR of 21.16% as on 30.06.2021. The capital adequacy is at a comfortable levelwith sufficient cushion over & above the prescribed regulatory limits.
- With the objective to fortify the balance, provisioning coverage on Stage III  Assets enhanced to 65%. This has resulted in lowest Net NPA levels of 2% in the past 3 years.
- Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme with an outlay of Rs.3,03,758 crore provide significant business opportunity to PFC going forward. PFC along with our subsidiary REC have been designated as nodal agencies for facilitating implementation of the Scheme.
- 28% increase in consolidated Profit After Tax from Q1’21- PAT at Rs. 4,555 cr. for Q1’22 vs. Rs.3,557cr. forQ1’21
- 12% increase in Consolidated Revenue from Operations from Q1’21 - Consolidated Revenues at Rs. 18,965 cr. for Q1’22 vs. Rs.16,914 cr. for Q1’21.
- Loan Asset book grows at 9.5% - Loan asset book for Q1’22 at Rs.Rs.7,49,373cr. vs. Rs.6,84,383 cr. in Q1’21.
- Reduction in consolidated net NPA ratio to 1.80% in Q1’22 from 3.15% in Q1’21due to resolution of stressed assets.
- Liquidity support to Discoms under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan
- Under the AatmaNirbharDiscoms liquidity support announced by the GOI, PFC & its subsidiary REC combined togetherhave so far sanctioned Rs.1,35,537 cr. and disbursed Rs.79,678 cr.
Ministry of Cooperation
Automation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
A Centrally sponsored project for Computerization of 63,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies /Large Area Multi-Purpose Societies /Farmers Service Societies  across the country with a total financial outlay of Rs. 2,516 Crore, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs  on 29th June, 2022, is under implementation.
At present, proposal for computerization of 54,752 PACS/LAMPS/FSS has been received from the States/UTs and central share amounting to Rs. 201.18 crore has been released for the procurement of hardware, digitization of legacy data and establishing support system. The Project Monitoring Units  have been set up at Central and State Levels by NABARD. Development of software has been started by the National Level Project Software Vendor  selected by NABARD.
The project entails bringing all the functional PACS onto on ERP  based common software, linking them with NABARD through State Cooperative Banks  and District Central Cooperative Banks , that will also help in maintaining check and balance on repayment of the loan disbursed.
The Ministry of Cooperation in consultation with States/UTs & other stakeholders concerned, has prepared Model Bye-laws for PACS to diversify their activities to become Multipurpose Cooperative Societies. Model byelaws have been circulated to all the States/UTs on 05.01.2023 for their adoption by PACS subject to their respective State Cooperative Societies Acts. The Model Bye-laws would enable PACS to carry out more than 25 business activities such as dairy, fisheries, food grain storage, LPG/CNG/Petrol/Diesel distributorship, common service centers, Fair Price Shops , community irrigation, Business Correspondent activities, etc. The common national software would support all the activities mentioned in the model byelaws including the provision of inputs like fertilizer, seeds, etc. by PACS.
However, waiving of agricultural loans does not come under the purview of Ministry of Cooperation.
This was stated by the Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves MoU between the India and Swaziland on cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine
The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has has given its ex-post-facto for the Memorandum of Understanding  between the India and Swaziland on cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine. The MoU was signed on 9th April 2018.
The MoU covers the following areas of cooperation:-
i) Drugs & Pharmaceutical products;
ii) Medical Consumable products;
iii) Medical Research;
iv) Medical Equipment;
v) Public Health;
vi) Communicable Disease Control & Surveillance;
vii) Health Tourism; and
viii) Any other area of mutual interest.
A Working Group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this MoU.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Anurag Singh Thakur launches Fit India Healthy Hindustan Talk Series with Millets Special episode
Let's eat healthily, exercise regularly and stay fit: Shri Anurag Thakur
Highlights:
- Shri Anurag Thakur had a special session with the Fit India Healthy Hindustan Icons, where he discussed fitness, a healthy diet chart, the needs of senior citizens and a special session on the importance of Millets in our daily life.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, on Sunday, January 15th launched Fit India's Healthy Hindustan Talk Series with a special episode on Millet.
During the special curtain raiser episode, the Minister had a special session with the Fit India Healthy Hindustan Icons, where he discussed fitness, a healthy diet chart, the needs of senior citizens and a special session on the importance of Millets in our daily life.
The series, an online talk show by eminent fitness experts and Fit India Icons will kick off on 22nd January until 12th March 2023 and would be aired on the official YouTube and Instagram handles of Fit India, every Sunday at 11 am.
During the curtain raiser programme, the Minister appreciated all the experts and icons of Fit India for such a noble campaign and said, “At the age of 70 years, we wish for a healthy body then why don't we start taking care of our health from a young age? Let's take knowledge from professionals, eat healthily, exercise regularly and stay fit. As soon as we make people aware, there is going to be a big difference and I have full faith that this show will bring a change in the lives of people."
In keeping with the vision of Honourable Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi to create a fit nation, the Fit India Healthy Hindustan aims to promote the importance of fitness, healthy eating and mental wellness among all age groups, especially senior citizens.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millets’ . It is the initiative of the Government of India that has led to a United Nations Resolution being adopted with support from more than 70 nations across the globe. The Government of India endeavours to celebrate IYOM 2023, to make it a people’s movement so that Indian millets, recipes, and value-added products are accepted globally.
The Fit India Healthy Hindustan panellists includes Luke Coutinho , Ryan Fernando , Heena Bhimani  and Sangram Singh .
Speaking about the importance of Millets, Nutritionist Ryan Fernando said, “60% of ladies have haemoglobin deficiency but usage of millets can fulfil that deficiency; Raagi has something in it called phenolic acid which is a very powerful Super Antioxidant that heals muscle damage and Millets in my book are going to become new superheroes ``.
Wrestler Sangram Singh went on to add, "Fit India Healthy Hindustan Program is a very good initiative of the government which will benefit everyone. If we all start using millet, then diseases will be 99.9 feet away from our country and will very soon become a sporting nation."
Click here for full curtain raiser episode
Ministry of Civil Aviation
AAI awarded six airports for Operations, Management and Development under Public Private Partnership  for a period of 50 years in the year 2020-2021.
Concessionaires have been selected through competitive bidding process by evaluating the technical and financial capacity of the bidders.
Airports Authority of India  has awarded six airports namely Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru for Operations, Management and Development under Public Private Partnership  for a period of 50 years in the year 2020-2021. The terms and conditions of the transaction of PPP of six airports were decided by the Empowered Group of Secretaries  chaired by CEO, NITI Aayog which inter-alia comprised Secretaries of Ministry of Finance  also. Therefore, the Ministry of Finance and NITI Aayog were part of the decision making process and the EGoS finalised the contours of the bidding process for PPP of six airports.
In order to ensure more competition and to give more flexibility to bidders, the following conditions among others were stipulated: -
i. No prior airport experience
ii. No cap on number of airports for which a participating entity could bid for
iii. Per Passenger Fee as bidding parameter instead of revenue sharing.
The Concessionaires have been selected through competitive bidding process by evaluating the technical and financial capacity of the bidders. The decision of EGoS was considered and after detailed deliberation on relevant issues, Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee  recommended the proposal. The PPPAC, chaired by Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs comprising Members from NITI Aayog, Department of Expenditure, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation and AAI in its meeting held on 11.12.2018 had deliberated the issue of Total Project Cost . To a suggestion that TPC should be estimated upfront, the PPPAC noted that it is not possible to work out the TPC over the proposed concession period of 50 years as it would depend on the basis of demand to be assessed by the Concessionaire. It was also noted by PPPAC that there is no one size fits all strategy and termination payment have been taken care of in a unique manner and not in terms of TPC.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Gen.  V. K. Singh  in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
Delegation from Pacific Pension and Investment Institute, calls on PM
Delegation from Pacific Pension and Investment Institute, calls on PM
 Institute, led by its President, Mr. Lionel C. Johnson, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.
The delegation members praised the pace of economic reforms in India, and emphasized the growth potential that exists in the country. Various aspects of the economy such as FDI, GST came up for discussion.
The Prime Minister highlighted various possibilities for investment in India. He spoke of the recent reforms and steps taken for ease of doing business. He said the rising aspirations of India's people, along with robust economic fundamentals, represent a significant opportunity for investment. He emphasized on the potential of investment in the renewable energy and organic farming sectors. He appreciated the fact that the PPI Institute holds the funds that it is investing, as a trustee, and added that this concept of trusteeship is well understood in India, and was even articulated by Mahatma Gandhi.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Relief Package for Family Members of Manual Scavengers
No death has been reported due to engaging in Manual Scavenging   of the Prohibition of Manual Scavenging Act,2013). However, persons have died due to accidents while undertaking hazardous cleaning of sewer and septic tanks.
In accordance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Judgment dated 27.03.2014 in Civil Writ Petition No. 583 of 2003, compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each is paid by the State Governments to the families of those who have died while cleaning sewers/septic tanks from the year 1993 onwards. National Commission for Safai Karamcharis and Department of Social Justice have ensured such compensation payments. State wise details which include the state of Uttar Pradesh are given at Annexure.
As per the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 ” manual scavenging is a prohibited activity in the country with effect from 6.12.2013. No person or agency can engage or employ any person for manual scavenging from the above date. Any person or agency who engages any person for manual scavenging in violation of the provisions of the MS Act, 2013 is punishable under Section 8 of the above Act, with imprisonment upto 2 years or fine upto Rs. One Lakh or both.
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, since October 2, 2014, more than 10.94 crore sanitary toilets have been constructed in rural areas and over 62.65 lakh in urban areas and insanitary toilets have been converted into sanitary toilets. This work made a huge contribution towards ending the practice of manual scavenging. After receiving reports from the social institutions working in this field, about continuation of this practice, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched a mobile app “Swachhata Abhiyaan” on 24.12.2020 to capture the data of insanitary latrines still existing and manual scavengers associated with them. Any person can upload the data of insanitary latrines and manual scavengers on the mobile app. Thereafter, the data is verified by the concerned district administration. However, not a single insanitary latrine has been confirmed so far.
Ministry of Law and Justice
Law Secretary Shri Anoop Kumar Mendiratta represents India in Commonwealth High Level Law Ministers Meeting on the Legal aspects of COVID-19
Video conferencing came as a big boost for timely disposal of litigations: says Law Secretary during the virtual meeting
Shri Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice, on behalf of Union Minister for Law & Justice Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, represented India in the Commonwealth High Level Law Ministers Meeting on the Legal aspects of COVID-19. The meeting, chaired by the Law Minister of Sri Lanka, was organised in virtual mode by Commonwealth Secretariat on 18th February, 2021.The event provided an opportunity to the Law Ministers to share views and experiences on solutions to key legal challenges that have arisen as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The meeting was focused on ensuring equal access to justice for all, Upholding the rule of law in the fight against COVID-19 and legal barriers to equitable access to essential medicines.
Addressing the august meeting of Ministers of Law and Justice, Leaders of delegation and senior officials from Commonwealth countries, Shri Mendirattahighlighted several initiatives and relief measures taken by the Indian Government under the able leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, inter-alia, to ensure affordable and easy access to justice for all.He highlighted that the giant leap in digitisation and technological innovations have become the mainstay of judicial proceedings during Covid times. Attention was invited to the order passed by the Supreme Court of India on 6th April, 2020 giving legal sanctity and validity to the court hearings done through video conferencing, which came as a big boost for timely disposal of litigations especially in cases which required urgent intervention of Courts and Tribunals. He further informed that the District Courts and High Courts in India heard 76.38 lakh cases and the Supreme Court heard nearly 52,353 cases till 31.01.2021 through video conferencing only.
Law Secretary also informed of India undertaking the world’s largest vaccination program and helping other countries under neighbourhood first policy by distributing indigenous vaccines, namely, Covishield and Covaxin. He pointed out that in the next fiscal, India proposes to increase its spending on healthcare from the current levels.
He emphasized that ideas exchanged in this Commonwealth Forum shall be enriching and result in maximization of benefits for the people across the world and a collaborative approach shall enable us to restore and rejuvenate the legal ecosystem.
The Ministers of Law and Justice and Leaders of delegation representing the Commonwealth countries adopted a statement after deliberations.
Ministry of Education
Union Budget 2021-2022: Highlights for the Department of School Education and Literacy
Standardization of Indian Sign Language across the country, announces Union Budget 2021
For children with hearing impairments, the Government will work on standardization of Indian Sign language across the country, and develop National and State Curriculum materials for use by them. This was announced during Budget 2021-22 as Initiatives on Education as part of National Education Policy 2020.
In line with this announcement, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education will take up following from April this year:
- Books shall be converted as e-books as per the UDL guidelines
- Sign language videos shall be developed
- A Dictionary/glossary for sign language will be developed
Efforts will be made to disseminate these resources through DIKSHA and PM e-VIDYA. An MoU has been signed between CIET, NCERT and ISLRTC and are working in close collaboration with ISLRTC for developing NCERT textbook based videos in Indian Sign language.
The task of standardization of ISL brings an opportunity to collaborate and contribute towards making society inclusive and to bring some cohesiveness in the many dialects of sign language in practice across India. The task will also promote the learning of children with hearing impairment thereby providing them an equal opportunity to unfold their potential. All children will be able to communicate with each other with ease and know each other better. This will help to promote inclusion in the impressionable period of development during the school years.
Vice President's Secretariat
Dream big, work hard to achieve success: Vice President
Interacts with Students of Atharva Group of Institutes
The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that dream big, aim high and work hard to realize their ambitions and achieve success in the chosen professions. He was interacting with a group of students from Atharva Group of Institutes at the Raj Bhavan, in Mumbai today.
The Vice President cited how late President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, who came from humble background, rose to occupy the highest positions through sheer hard work, discipline and commitment. He further said that educational curricula in the fast-changing world must equip the students to find suitable employment or become self-employed. Merely acquiring degrees was not enough, education must enlighten and empower the youth and Indians are endowed with talent and this talent needs to be tapped through skill development, he added.
The Vice President asked students to be well acquainted with the country’s culture, history and heritage. He further said that culture has nothing to do with religion as the former is way of life and the latter is way of worship. Unfortunately, some people are trying to mix both and Hindu is not a religion but a cultural connotation, he added.
Shri Naidu also exhorted the students to be first proficient in their mother tongues first and subsequently learn as many languages, including English. “Due to the passion to learn English, we are forgetting our mother tongue. You can articulate in a better manner in mother tongue”, he told them. The Vice President said that he had advised all the state Governments to ensure that mother tongue was taught as a subject in schools if not as a medium of instruction.
The Vice President deplored attempts to create dissensions in the name of religion, region and castes and termed such attempts as utter nonsense. He said that agriculture and industry were equally important for the development of the country.
The Vice President, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, expressed his concern over disruptions of Parliament and State Assemblies and underlined the need for constructive debates. “Debate, discuss and decide, but not disrupt”, he told lawmakers. Shri Naidu also said that pressure must be brought to bear on the political parties to pursue development agenda.